Anupam Kher's tribute to Robert De Niro

Actor Anupam Kher will be seen donning director's hat for a 29-minute short film "I Went Shopping For Robert De Niro".

Anupam, who respects Niro a lot, got a chance to share screen space with the Hollywood legend in "Silver Linings Playbook".

"I have been wanting to direct a film for the past one year. When I came back from the US after completing 'Silver Linings Playbook', Yamini, the writer of the short film, narrated the concept to me and I thought it is a wonderful story and I wanted to tell it. I decided to direct and produce it," Anupam, 57, said in a statement. He had earlier directed 2002 release "Om Jai Jagadish".

"I Went Shopping For Robert De Niro", also produced by the actor under his banner Actor Prepares, named after his acting school, tells the story of two girls, who meet each other at the crossroads of their lives and shop for Niro and what happens to them on that particular day.

Yamini Kshirsagar and Rimal Arora play the lead roles in the film".

"With this film we tell the story of millions of people who come to the city of Mumbai to fulfil their dreams...," said the actor who added "Silver Linings Playbook" "reminded me of the excitement I experienced when I signed my first film ever and 'I Went Shopping For Robert De Niro' reminded me of my first days in Mumbai".

"Nostalgia drove me to be a part of both these stories. In one sense, going to celebrate 'Silver Linings Playbook' at the Oscars brings this entire journey as full circle for me as being a part of the project gave birth to the short film," Anupam said.